PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artem Zarencev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake McWrestle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zarencev
vs
McWrestle

189 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
283 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Artem Zarencev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blake McWrestle!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarencev slips a straight right by McWrestle.
McWrestle shoots in but no luck this time.
Zarencev moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Zarencev throws a series of punches but McWrestle moves out of range.

McWrestle shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zarencev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McWrestle happy to just control the position for now.
McWrestle throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zarencev is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McWrestle asserts his dominance and retains side control.

McWrestle stands up and we're back to a striking position.

McWrestle closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McWrestle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A lull in the action here as McWrestle stalls from top position.
McWrestle advances to full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McWrestle stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Zarencev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McWrestle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zarencev won't be happy with that.
McWrestle controls the position.
McWrestle in side control lands a decent elbow.

McWrestle decides to take the fight back to the feet.

McWrestle scores a takedown into full mount!
Zarencev is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zarencev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
McWrestle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zarencev is trying to escape the mount but McWrestle keeps good control and instead manages to take Zarencev's back.

McWrestle has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Zarencev has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I would not like to be Zarencev right now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zarencev could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McWrestle looking for the RNC.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
McWrestle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

McWrestle looking for the choke but no joy.
Zarencev is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by McWrestle.
Zarencev just trying to survive but McWrestle is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McWrestle controls the action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Blake McWrestle just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zarencev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

McWrestle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake McWrestle dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McWrestle takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Zarencev closes the distance but McWrestle moves to the side

and McWrestle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McWrestle.
McWrestle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zarencev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWrestle sitting in guard, not really doing much.

McWrestle gets to his feet. Zarencev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No luck with that takedown attempt from McWrestle.

McWrestle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McWrestle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle lands a couple of elbows.
McWrestle stands up over Zarencev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Zarencev is working an open guard so McWrestle takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

McWrestle closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zarencev to the mat! Zarencev manages to get full guard.

McWrestle gets to his feet - Zarencev follows without any prompting.

McWrestle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zarencev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McWrestle misses with the ground and pound.
Blake McWrestle has got the better of the ground game so far.
McWrestle is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McWrestle stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A slow jab from Zarencev misses its intended target.

McWrestle shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zarencev's guard.

Zarencev is working an open guard so McWrestle takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Artem Zarencev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zarencev darts in trying to clinch

and McWrestle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zarencev's guard now.
McWrestle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zarencev is working an open guard so McWrestle takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
McWrestle is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zarencev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McWrestle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Artem Zarencev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake McWrestle.
Some wild striking there from Zarencev.

McWrestle closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

McWrestle escapes and gets back to his feet.
McWrestle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zarencev.
Zarencev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A head kick misses from McWrestle.
Zarencev misses with a wild combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McWrestle closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zarencev did well to prevent McWrestle getting side control.
Zarencev is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake McWrestle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zarencev is looking to land body kicks.

McWrestle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
McWrestle is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zarencev tries to hold on but McWrestle postures up.
McWrestle takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Let's hope that McWrestle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McWrestle landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWrestle looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McWrestle moves to the back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Zarencev controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McWrestle has Zarencev flattened out and is raining down punches.
McWrestle controls the action.

Zarencev is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
McWrestle cracks Zarencev with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Zarencev from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McWrestle is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Despite being in the dominant position, Blake McWrestle just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McWrestle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zarencev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McWrestle on the ground.
McWrestle stays in close to Zarencev's body and controls the position.
Zarencev looking to control.
McWrestle content to stall in guard here.
Zarencev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McWrestle sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McWrestle gets to his feet. Zarencev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Zarencev gets caught flat footed, as McWrestle shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McWrestle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

McWrestle drops back looking for a leg! Zarencev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zarencev manages to kick McWrestle off! McWrestle jumps back into Zarencev's guard.
Artem Zarencev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blake McWrestle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zarencev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McWrestle controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake McWrestle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McWrestle winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake McWrestle!